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Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Rain Cloud in a Jar

Rain Cloud in a Jar

Modified: Feb 17, 2025 · Published: May 26, 2015 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

A rain cloud in a jar is a simple visual activity for understanding why rain falls and how clouds form.

Children can experiment with different sizes and shapes of shaving foam clouds and watch how they affect how the food colouring rain falls.

glass full of water with a layer of shaving foam over the top. Food colouring is dripping through the shaving foam to the bottom of the jar.

What is a cloud?

Clouds are droplets of water and crystals of ice. Their exact composition depends on the temperature. Clouds form when warm air rises, expands, and cools. Water molecules then attach to dust, pollution, and smoke particles. When these molecules come together, they form a cloud. Clouds float because the water droplets forming them are warmed up by the sun’s heat, and warm air rises.

The altitude at which clouds form depends on several factors, such as air temperature, wind, and cloud size.

How to make a rain cloud in a jar

You’ll need

A jar

Shaving Cream

Water

Food colouring

Dropper or pipette

Rain cloud in a jar instructions

Fill the jar about ¾ full with water

Cover with shaving cream to completely cover the surface of the water. The shaving foam represents a cloud.

Drip water over the shaving foam using a pipette

Drop food colouring over the shaving foam.

Watch the food colouring fall to the bottom of the jar.

How does a rain cloud in a jar work?

Clouds form when water vapour rises and cools back into water droplets to form clouds. 

When a rain cloud reaches a certain mass, the water needs to escape and so breaks through the cloud to fall as rain. As you drip the water over the shaving cream cloud, the water starts to fall through the cloud.

Our rain cloud in a jar is a very simple model of how rain forms, but it is a lot of fun to set up and watch!

rain cloud in a jar

Why are rain clouds grey?

When clouds become full of water droplets, they are so thick that light cannot travel through them, making clouds look grey! This is why grey clouds are a sign that rain is about to fall.

Rain Cloud in a Jar Instructions
Printable instructions for a rain cloud in a jar science experiment

More rain and water science experiments

Make a model of the water cycle to learn how water is recycled over and over again!

Did you know most rain comes from the sea?

Find out why raindrops form sphere shapes.

Try a very simple evaporation investigation.

Inspiration Laboratories has a great cloud in a bottle activity.

Rain cloud in a jar science experiment. Jar ⅔ full of water with shaving foam on the top. Food colouring is dripped through the shaving foam to represent rain.

Last Updated on February 17, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Arjun shibi

    September 18, 2017 at 8:43 am

    its a great app to the students of my age …… i’m so happy to use it and to now more about the science …..

    Reply

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